United set for Alcantara transfer tussle

Thiago Alcantara scores for Spain Under-21s in the European Championship final

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Gerard Pique has declared that Barcelona must try and talk Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara into staying at the Catalan club after the midfielder netted a hat-trick in Spain's 4-1 win over Italy in the under-21 European Championship final.

Alcantara has captained the Spain side throughout the tournament in Israel, helping the team achieve a perfect record of five wins out of five, and was a key member of the side that won the tournament in 2011.

However, his future at the Camp Nou has been cast into doubt.

Alcantara made just 15 starts in La Liga last season, struggling to hold down a place in the first team, where he faces stiff competition from the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

According to reports in Spain, he has already decided to leave Barcelona, with United and Bayern Munich reportedly the two clubs that have shown the most interest in him.

Either club could seal his signature shortly by paying his 18million-euro buy-out clause before 31 July, after which his transfer fee will rise.

Speaking to radio programme Al Primer Toque on Onda Cero, Barca centre-back Pique urged his club to hold on to the 22-year-old, who he believes could become as important to the team in the future as Xavi and Iniesta.

"There is a possibility that he could leave but we have to convince him that the best place for him is Barcelona," said Pique.

"Players in his position like Xavi were patient and they ended up defining an era."

For Pique, the exploits of Alcantara and the under-21s shows that the future of Spanish football is in safe hands.

"When you watch them and see how superior they have been in this tournament you realise that the future is very positive," he said.